Sanitary telephone-mouthpiece.



E. M. JENKINS.

SANITARY TELEPHONE MOUTHPIECE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 10. 1914.

1 176,900. Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

' THE C OLUMBIA PLAI lOGRAPn co., wAsmNflTDmj. C

A TTOR/VEY arnr r re.

.Ep MONROE JENKINS. OF' ITAI.|Y, rnxas.

SANITARY TELEEHO'N'E-MOUTHPIECE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ED Mormon JENKINS,

citizen of the United States, residing at Italy, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Telephone- Mouthpieces, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sanitary telephone mouthpieces; and has particular relation to certain improvements upon the mouth-piece set forth in Letters Patent issued to me and bearing date of September 29th, 1914, and numbered 1,112,291. r

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the mouth-piece previously patented but to retain the essential elements, and to provide a construction of an improved type whereby compactness,

symmetry and practicability will be possessed.

Among the features of the invention are a combined outer shell and receptacle, one merging into the other; an intermediate shell imperforate except at a point designed to be located directly over the receptacle of the outer shell; means for holding the intermediate shell against circumferential movement; and theprovision of friction joints whereby the mouth-piece may be screwed into the telephone transmitterand the shells properly positioned.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved sanitary mouthpiece'that will be strong, durable, efiicient and simple and comparatively inexpensive to construct, also one in which the several parts will not be likely to get out of Working order. 7

With the above and other objects in view the invention has relationto certain novel features of construction and operation, an example of whichis described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mouth-piece applied to a telephone transmitter, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mouth-piece, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the inner shell, Fig. l is a side elevation of the intermediate shell, Fig. 5 is a side elevationof the outer shell, 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line w-cc of Fig. l, and Fig. 7 is an en- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented EJ 1 28 1916, Application filed October 10, 1914. Serial No. 866,004.

larged cross sectional view taken on the line aa of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the outer shell of a telephone mouth-piece, 2an intermediate tapering shell fitting within the outer shell, and 3 an inner tapering shell fitting within the intermediate shell. The inner shell 3 has at one end a flaring annular flange 4 contiguous to its inner surface but having an exterior annular shoulder 5. At the opposite end the inner shell has an externally screw threaded annular flange 6. Exterior circumferential bosses 7 and 8 are provided the former at the intersection of the shoulder 5 and the shell, and the latter immediately adjacent the flange 6. These bosses are comparatively narrow and taper in the direction of the flange 6. The shell 3 between these bosses is provided with a plurality of perforations 9.

The intermediate shell 2 is constructed to surround the inner shell and frictionally fit on the bosses 7 and 8 with its larger end abutting the shoulder 5. The said bosses not only serve to form liquid tight joints between the two shells but also to space them apart whereby a circumferential space between the shells is provided. The shell 2 is imperforate except for a cluster of perforations 10 which are restricted to a very small area and when the mouth-piece is assembled are positioned at the under side. The shell 2 has bosses l1 and 12 respectively at its ends similar to the bosses 7 and 8.

The outer shell 1 is constructed to fit on the bosses of the intermediate shell whereby liquid tight joints are made and is provided i with internal notches 14- at its outer end. It

will be observed that these notches are both disposed above the horizontal central plane of the shells and receive lugs 15 extending from the boss 11 of the intermediate shell whereby said intermediate shell is fastened against circumferential movement. By placing the notches and lugs in the position described it is impossible for one to insert 7 the intermediate shell 2 in an inverted position.

By observing Fig. 6 it will be noted that the upper half of the outer shell is contiguone to the other shells and is spaced from the intermediate shell by the bosses'of the latter. The lower portion of the shell 1 is merged into a receptacle or reservoir 16. By

observing Figs. 2 and 5 it will be observed that at the front end which abuts the sh'oulder 5, the outer shell 1 is substantially cir- .cular and fits the boss 11. From this point however the receptacle 16 inclines down-'- ward in order to provide capacity. The inner or rear end of the outer shell is closed by a vertical plate 17 whichforms the rear wall of the receptacle 16 and is abutted by the shell 2. This plate or wall has an: aperture 18 in which the boss 8 of the inner shell frictionally engages.

The outer shell is also providedopposite the receptacle with a :nipple 19 normally closed by a screw threaded cap-20. When-it is desired to place a liquid disinfectant-in the receptacle 16 the cap 20 is removed and the liquid introduced [through the nipple. This liquid passes down the imperforate walls of the intermediate shell 2 and is retained between the bosses 11 and 12 which prevent overflowing. The cap .20 is replaced when the receptacle is filled. It is obvious that the liquid can escape only through the perforations 10 and that the mouth-piece may be displaced at various angles to the perpendicular without the liquid passing through said perforations owing to the location and restriction of the same. If the telephone was overturned the chances are theliquid would be displaced into the space between the outer and intermediate shells at either side rather than through the perforations 10. Yet these perforations 10 permit the fumes to escape into the space between the intermediate shell 2 and the inner shell 3 from which they are liberated through the perforations?) thereby being disseminated throughout the inner shell and whereby it is impossible for any germs to lodge in or about the mouth-piece without being subjected to said fumes.

By reason of the bosses and friction joints it is apparent that the inner shell may be screwed into the telephone transmitter until it is tight and the outer shell positioned so thatthe reservoir 16 will depend in an up- .right position which would be extremely uncertain unless such provision. was made. It is obviousthat a solidified disinfectant may be placed in the receptacle 16 or that absorbent material may be'deposited in the same if desired.

What I claim is:

'1. In a'telephone transmitter mouth piece an inner tapered shell provided with perforations and having an annular shoulder at its larger end, a pair of annular bosses surrounding the inner shell, said bosses being tapered toward'the smaller end of said inner shell and located one adjacent the smaller end of the shell and the other at the shoulder, a tapered intermediate shell. frictionally engaging on the bosses of the inner shell and abutting the shoulder of the latter in spaced relationto' said inner shell, an

outer shell frictionally engaging at one end on the intermediate shell and'abutting the shoulder of the inner shell and frictionally engaging the boss at the smaller end of the inner shell, and areceptacle depending from the outer shell.

2. In a telephonetransmittermouth-piece, an outer shell, an intermediate shell within the outer shell having a restricted cluster of perforations whereby the remainder of said shell is imperforate, areceptaclecarriedby theouter shell and disposed beneath the perforations of the intermediate shell, the

outer and intermediate shells being spaced apart permitting the passage 'ofa Qliquid therebetween, anda perforate inner shell spaced from the intermediate 'shell and .provided with means for securing all of said shells to a transmitter.

3. :In a telephone transmitter mouth-piece, an inner tapered shell provided withiperfo rations and having an annularshoulder at its larger end, a pair of annular bosses sur rounding the inner shell, said bosses being tapered toward the smaller end of said inner shell and located one adjacentv the smaller end of .the shell and the other atthe shoulder, a tapered intermediateshell tion, a receptacle formed in the lower 'por-- tion of the outer shell, a vertical wall inclos ing one end of the outer shell and having an aperture throughwhich the smaller'boss of the inner shell protrudes, a screw threaded flange extending from the inner shell beyond said wall and adapted to entera transmitter, a nipple'provided on the outer shell, and a closure for the nipple. A e V In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses. V

Witnesses i V i S. G. Lnwis, JACK A. ScHL Y.

.copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner "01 LPatez'r'ts,

WahingtonQDfGP r no MONROE JENKINS. 

